TNI Responds to Reports of Troop Deployment to Gaza in May
The Head of the TNI Information Centre, Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, stated that Indonesia’s peacekeeping forces are prepared for deployment to Gaza, Palestine. However, the troop deployment remains pending leadership instructions.
“We are still awaiting instructions in accordance with direction from leadership,” he said at the TNI Media Centre in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
Nasrullah’s statement responded to a media report from Turkish news agency Anadolu, which reported that the deployment of international forces in the Gaza Strip would commence in May.
In the Anadolu report, Israel’s public broadcasting corporation KAN reported that Israel is preparing to deploy international forces in the Gaza Strip in May, as part of the next phase of a plan proposed by United States President Donald Trump.
The report indicated that the forces are estimated to comprise approximately 5,000 soldiers from Indonesia, along with dozens of troops from Kazakhstan, Morocco, Albania and Kosovo, commencing operations on 1 May.
Regarding this deployment, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi stated that the dispatch of 8,000 TNI peacekeeping forces to Gaza, Palestine, has been postponed. Prasetyo confirmed that the postponement was due to considerations regarding the security situation caused by the conflict between Iran and Israel-United States.
“Everything is on hold. On hold. Yes (due to the security situation),” Prasetyo said at the Defence Ministry office in Jakarta on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
The presidential spokesman was unable to confirm a timeline for the suspension. “Yes, until a timeline that has not yet been determined,” he said.
Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin previously stated that 8,000 TNI soldiers were prepared for deployment to the Gaza Strip, Palestine, for assignment with the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) under the Board of Peace. However, there is still no certainty regarding when the nation’s peacekeeping forces will depart.
“We are awaiting developments from the Board of Peace,” he said following a meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles at his office on Thursday, 12 March 2026.
According to Sjafrie, the dynamics within the Peace Board established by United States President Donald Trump are currently still heightened. Sjafrie stated that the conflict between Iran and two Board of Peace member states requires special attention.
However, he said Indonesia’s position on the continuance of peacekeeping force deployment to Gaza remains oriented towards national interest. Sjafrie stated that this has become a constitutional mandate, which requires the state to protect all Indonesian territory.
The plan to send 8,000 Indonesian soldiers to Gaza has faced opposition from various quarters. One such group is the Forum of TNI Retired Officers, which has called for the plan to be cancelled. The forum views Indonesia’s involvement in the international stabilisation force initiative by United States President Donald Trump as violating the constitution.
Retired General Fachrul Razi explained that Indonesia’s involvement in international peacekeeping forces has only been permissible under United Nations mandate, not under other organisations.